Hollow body in the form of a flexible bar

Abstract

A flexible cord-like hollow object for the transportation of media is provided with an inner zone enclosed by a casing. A barrier layer, which is impermeable to volatile molecules of the medium to be transported, is provided on the casing surface facing the inner zone. The barrier layer comprises sub-elements that are arranged in a scale-like manner.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A flexible cord-like hollow object comprising a casing ( 12 ) extending along a longitudinal axis and having ( 1 ) an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) encircling an inner zone for the transportation of a medium having volatile molecules and ( 2 ) a barrier layer ( 26 ), which is impermeable to said volatile molecules of the medium that is to be transported, characterized by the feature that said barrier layer ( 26 ) is on said inner surface ( 16 ) and comprises sub-elements ( 30 ) that are arranged in a scale-like manner and overlap in both the transportation direction of the medium and coaxially relative to said longitudinal axis and further characterized by the feature that said inner surface ( 16 ) to which said barrier layer ( 26 ) is adhered is treated physically and/or chemically in order to increase the strength of adhesion of the barrier layer ( 26 ). 
     
     
       2. A flexible cord-like hollow object comprising a casing ( 12 ) extending along a longitudinal axis and having ( 1 ) an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) encircling an inner zone for the transportation of a medium having volatile molecules and ( 2 ) a barrier layer ( 26 ), which is impermeable to said volatile molecules of the medium that is to be transported, characterized by the feature that said barrier layer ( 26 ) is on said inner surface ( 16 ) and comprises sub-elements ( 30 ) that are arranged in a scale-like manner and overlap in both the transportation direction of the medium and coaxially relative to said longitudinal axis and characterized further by the feature that said inner surface ( 16 ) is roughened. 
     
     
       3. A flexible cord-like hollow object comprising a casing ( 12 ) extending along a longitudinal axis and having ( 1 ) an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) encircling an inner zone for the transportation of a medium having volatile molecules and ( 2 ) a barrier layer ( 26 ), which is impermeable to said volatile molecules of the medium that is to be transported, characterized by the feature that said barrier layer ( 26 ) is on said inner surface ( 16 ) and comprises sub-elements ( 30 ) that are arranged in a scale-like manner and overlap in both the transportation direction of the medium and coaxially relative to said longitudinal axis and characterized further by the feature that the material of said inner layer ( 18 ) is polarized at least in the region of said inner surface ( 16 ). 
     
     
       4. A flexible cord-like hollow object comprising a casing ( 12 ) extending along a longitudinal axis and having ( 1 ) an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) encircling an inner zone for the transportation of a medium having molecules and ( 2 ) a barrier layer ( 26 ), which is impermeable to said volatile molecules of the medium that is to be transported, characterized by the feature that said barrier layer ( 26 ) is on said inner surface ( 16 ) and comprises sub-elements ( 30 ) that are arranged in a scale-like manner and overlap in both the transportation direction of the medium and coaxially relative to said longitudinal axis and further characterized by the feature that the casing ( 12 ) comprises an inner layer ( 18 ), a middle layer ( 20 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ), at least one of which is a polymeric material. 
     
     
       5. A flexible cord-like hollow object in accordance with  claim 4 , characterized by the feature that a reinforcing layer ( 24 ) is arranged between said outer layer ( 22 ) and said middle layer ( 20 ) or between said middle layer ( 20 ) and said inner layer ( 18 ). 
     
     
       6. A method for preventing excessive permeation of fluid flowing through an inner zone ( 14 ) or passageway of a flexible hollow object ( 10 ), said inner zone extending along an axis, said hollow object having an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ) comprising the steps of 
       (a) positioning a barrier layer ( 26 ) on said inner surface ( 16 ), said barrier layer ( 26 ) having sub-elements ( 30 );  
       (b) causing said sub-elements ( 30 ) to be positioned in overlapping relationship relative to adjacent sub-elements and to overlap coaxially relative to said axis;  
       (c) adhering said sub-elements to said inner surface;  
       (d) directing the flow of said fluid through said inner zone ( 14 ) in the direction of overlapping; and  
       (e) further including the step of treating said inner surface ( 16 ) physically and/or chemically in order to increase the strength of adhesion of the barrier layer ( 26 ).  
     
     
       7. A method for preventing excessive permeation of fluid flowing through an inner zone ( 14 ) or passageway of a flexible hollow object ( 10 ), said inner zone extending along an axis, said hollow object having an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ) comprising the steps of 
       (a) positioning a barrier layer ( 26 ) on said inner surface ( 16 ), said barrier layer ( 26 ) having sub-elements ( 30 );  
       (b) causing said sub-elements ( 30 ) to be positioned in overlapping relationship relative to adjacent sub-elements and to overlap coaxially relative to said axis;  
       (c) directing the flow of said fluid through said inner zone ( 14 ) in the direction of overlapping;  
       (d) adhering said sub-elements to said inner surface ( 16 ); and  
       (e) further including the step of roughening said inner surface ( 16 ) in order to increase the strength of adhesion of the barrier layer ( 26 ).  
     
     
       8. A method for preventing excessive permeation of fluid flowing through an inner zone ( 14 ) or passageway of a flexible hollow object ( 10 ), said inner zone extending along an axis, said hollow object having an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ) comprising the steps of 
       (a) positioning a barrier layer ( 26 ) on said inner surface ( 16 ), said barrier layer ( 26 ) having sub-elements ( 30 );  
       (b) causing said sub-elements ( 30 ) to be positioned in overlapping relationship relative to adjacent sub-elements and to overlap coaxially relative to said axis;  
       (c) directing the flow of said fluid through said inner zone ( 14 ) in the direction of overlapping;  
       (d) adhering said sub-elements to said inner surface ( 16 ); and  
       (e) further including the step of polarizing said inner surface ( 16 ) in order to increase the strength of adhesion of the barrier layer ( 26 ).  
     
     
       9. A method for preventing excessive permeation of fluid flowing through an inner zone ( 14 ) or passageway of a flexible hollow object ( 10 ), said inner zone extending along an axis, said hollow object having an inner layer ( 18 ) with an inner surface ( 16 ) and an outer layer ( 22 ) comprising the steps of 
       (a) positioning a barrier layer ( 26 ) on said inner surface ( 16 ), said barrier layer ( 26 ) having sub-elements ( 30 );  
       (b) causing said sub-elements ( 30 ) to be positioned in overlapping relationship relative to adjacent sub-elements and to overlap coaxially relative to said axis;  
       (c) directing the flow of said fluid through said inner zone ( 14 ) in the direction of overlapping; and  
       (d) characterized in that prior to step (c) said hollow object ( 10 ) is subjected to bending.